The Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Volleyball Championship has been in the hands of the Holland College Hurricanes or the St. Thomas University Tommies since 2013-14, so when those two teams faceoff Tuesday night at the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium, there will be plenty of league pedigree.
The Tommies have gone 21-4 over the last two ACAA regular seasons, earning top spot heading into playoffs both years and come into this playoff matchup with a veteran rotation for the first time in head coach, Henri Mallet’s, career with the team.
“We believe that experience is very important once playoffs come. We finally have a mature and experienced roster and that will be very helpful during the highs and lows of a match. We have guys who have won an ACAA Championship, so they understand what it takes to win. With last season being canceled, the guys are excited to play meaningful matches and show what we can do as a program.”
The Tommies and Hurricanes have faced off four times this season, with the Tommies winning each match by a combined 12-3 score. Mallet knows that the season record means nothing and that his team will need to be prepared for anything Tuesday night.
“I think this season showed that anyone can beat anyone as each team has talented players, so we’ll need to be at our best and be able to maintain a high level for full matches without any let downs. It might sound very basic, but if we can pass and control our first contacts, we have a good chance to be successful.”
Those first passes are the key to the Tommies’ offense, giving 3rd year setter, Henry Doucet, the ability to run that offense at the highest level.
“When we get that good first touch, Henry can spread out his offense as we have five guys on the floor that can score at a high level.”
First serve on Tuesday is scheduled for 8:00pm, with the winner advancing to the ACAA final, which is a best of three series.